Medical providers (doctors, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, etc.) are invited to join Magellan for their Driving Suicides to Zero training Monday, April 29 from 9 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 3 p.m. The goal of the training is to help reduce the suicide rate by providing behavioral healthcare professionals with the skills, knowledge, attitudes [...]
Back in 2009, AZ had the 9th highest rate of suicide in the U.S. In that year 1,060 Arizonans took their own lives- so it’s easy to see why suicide prevention is an agency priority and is featured in our Strategic Map as a Winnable Battle. Since we’re responsible for the state’s behavioral health system- [...]
A child’s death is a tragedy, not only for family and friends but also for the community as a whole. Unfortunately, over 2 children die each day in Arizona. In 2011, 837 children died. This was a decline from 2010 when 862 children died. In fact, since 2005, Arizona has seen a decline in child [...]
When taken as directed for legitimate medical purposes (and prescribed appropriately) prescription drugs can be safe and effective at treating illnesses and conditions. However, the increasing rates of prescription drug abuse are a growing and now urgent problem, especially among young people. Powerful prescription drugs are often available and easily accessible in many, if not [...]
Suicide is one of the most challenging and sensitive public health issues that we face, partly because so many folks have a hard time talking about the subject. It’s especially challenging for families that experience suicide first hand. 1,060 Arizonans died from suicide in 2009 the highest number ever, making it the 6th leading cause [...]
The vast majority of deaths among kids and young adults in the US are preventable- and many involve the choices theymake. Car crashes are responsible for 30% of deaths, unintentional injuries 16%, murder 16%, and suicide 12%. Teen pregnancy causes a wide range of social problems, and there are more than 9 million cases of [...]
Our Behavioral Health Office of Prevention http://www.azdhs.gov/bhs/ops.htm provides tools, resources and technical support to promote the resiliency and prevention of behavioral health/substance abuse disorders in our communities. Our goal is to empower communities and kids to make healthier choices by collaborating with Arizona’s prevention workforce, including our Tribal/Regional Behavioral Health Authorities and local communities; strategically [...]
